Social Media Helps Scotland Police Seize Cash From Crooks

Police also plan on using the Bluetooth wireless data transfer technology, so they can transmit mass messages to the mobile phones users at public events such as football matches. The messages will encourage users to report any suspicious behavior, including a link to the Crimestoppers website.

Criminals usually brag about their crimes while flaunting their booty. The Lothian and Borders Police are taking advantage of their song of praises by using the internet. The police established a way to report criminals anonymously via Facebook under a new crackdown that started this week.

According to Express.co.uk, internet users will be able to tip-off detectives using the popular social networking site under the scheme – a first for Scotland. The force has targeted Facebook users most seemingly to use Crimestoppers, persons aged 18 to 40, by posting advertising on their homepages.

Users can inform police anonymously “by clicking a link, leaving untraceable information without having to speak to anyone.”

Police also plan on using the Bluetooth wireless data transfer technology, so they can transmit mass messages to the mobile phones users at public events such as football matches. The messages will encourage users to report any suspicious behavior, including a link to the Crimestoppers website.

“Those who make a cushy living from activities such as drug dealing are not only deceitful to hard-working and honest members of the public, but are involved in despicable acts that cause great harm to our communities,” Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill told the Express. “They should not be able to evade the law.”

Crimestoppers has seized over £41million ($67.4 million U.S. dollars) from crooks and given it to community projects. Adding Facebook advertising and mass messaging transfers to mobile phones about Crimestoppers will catch more criminals and generate even more revenue.

Kate Jackson of Crimestoppers said, “Crimestoppers is not interested in who you are, it’s what you know. In over 23 years, we have never broken our promise of anonymity, so you needn’t fear passing information on to us.”

Mass messages to mobile phones and promoting on Facebook to help fight crime are excellent examples of how to use social media for the betterment of society. I hope this scheme gets promoted around the world and is used in more communities.